I-90 ALLSTON INTERCHANGE PROJECT
PLACEMAKING STUDY
City of Boston
Task Force Meeting
June 27, 2016
Task Force Agenda
Placemaking Study: Purpose and Process
Placemaking Standards: Draft Recommendations
Placemaking Study: Purpose and Process
“Provide a critical evaluation of the proposed MassDOT I-90 roadway and
transit infrastructure to ensure that it does not preclude a range of
successful urban design, economic development and neighborhood planning
outcomes in the future.”
Task 1: Analysis of existing planning and development context
Task 2: Identification of urban design and planning principles
Task 3: Compatibility of current MassDOT design with placemaking
principles and economic opportunities
Task 4: Creation and testing of alternative open spaces and development patterns
Current Focus
Task 5: Analysis of multi-modal systems and connections to transit
Task 6: Creation of planning framework
City Goals
1. Creation of a dynamic, mixed-use TOD district
• Walkable and human scaled
• Connections to Charles River
• Links to surrounding neighborhoods
• Supportive of mixed use development
2. Significant expansion of regional transit service
• Creation of West Station as a regional transportation hub
• Multiple transit choices: BRT, DMUs, buses, shuttles and commuter rail
3. Enhancement of Interstate reliability
• Replace obsolete viaduct
• Improve alignments
• ITS technology and information enhancements
Study Area
Study Context
MassDOT Alternative 3K-4
Community process
Task Force meetings
Community and advocate concepts
Stakeholders
Harvard University
(principal landowners)
Boston University
DCR
others
Alternative 3K-4
Key Community Placemaking Issues
• Integrated open space network with expanded riverfront park
• Shared use path connection to Charles River, Cambridge, Memorial Drive via Grand
Junction Bridge
• Quality of West Station as a landmark and transit-oriented district center with safe
and inviting access from all directions
• Alternatives for highway/rail alignments at the “throat”
• Walkability and pedestrian environment relative to roadway width
• Unite Allston‟s north and south neighborhoods by connecting Cambridge Street and
Commonwealth Avenue
• Decking over the highway and railyards to reduce noise and air pollution and create
a place for buildings, parks and connections
• Transformation of Cambridge Street into a vibrant neighborhood street with
protected bike lanes
• Interim conditions and phasing of infrastructure and development
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Key Community Issues Mapped
Evolution of the I-90 Interchange Design
Evolution of I-90 Interchange Design
portation and Mobility Review:
Comments and Observations
Evolution of I-90 Interchange Design
portation and Mobility Review:
Comments and Observations
Evolution of I-90 Interchange Design
Mobility Review:
Comments and Observations The Placemaking Study acknowledges the significant evolution of Alternative 3K-4
in responding to the community and stakeholders. These include:
Compact design approximating traditional street grid
Provision for multi-modal streets, including application of Boston’s
Complete Streets guidelines and MassDOT’s Separated Bicycle Lane
Planning and Design Guide standards
Inclusion of robust West Station as integral component of project
design and permitting
Multi-modal connection to Charles River
Preservation of the Grand Junction Railway connection and rail transit
adaptability on the Framingham/Worcester line
Evolution of I-90 Interchange Design
portation and Mobility Review:
Comments and Observations The Placemaking Study acknowledges the significant evolution of Alternative 3K-4 in
responding to the community and stakeholders. These include:
Reconstruction of the Franklin Street Pedestrian Bridge
Provision of additional parkland along the Dudley White Path
Significant movement towards creating street pattern that will support
mixed use development
Provision for future air rights development
Draft Placemaking Standards
Intended to ensure that the infrastructure does not preclude
opportunities for great placemaking
Provide direct recommendations for the project design and
environmental impact evaluations (MEPA filing)
Provide considerations for future master planning
Serve as evaluation tools for future infrastructure design,
placemaking and master plan.
Placemaking Analysis
Public Realm/Open Space
Mobility/Connectivity
Development Potential/Flexibility
Distinctive Place/Context Sensitive
Energy Efficiency/Sustainability
Open space types and typical dimensions; frequency and
distribution of open space; average distance to open space;
characteristics of public realm conditions; width of public realm
Street types and characteristics; pedestrian circulation
network; bicycle circulation network; transit network and
access; vehicular circulation network
Building typologies and dimensions; block size/geometry; air
rights block size/geometry; block access/flexibility; location
desirability
Placemaking character/features; land use and building
typologies; block size and geometry; street typologies and
transit nodes; elevation of roadways
Utilities and district-wide infrastructure; solar orientation, wind,
shadow; resiliency/flood considerations
Analysis Examples: “Heat Maps”
Placemaking Principles
Public Realm/Open Space
Mobility/Connectivity
Development Potential/Flexibility
Distinctive Place/Context Sensitive
Energy Efficiency/Sustainability
• Enhance access to useable open space
• Reinforce connections to existing resources – Charles River
• Provide active and generous street edges
• Reinforce walkable and pedestrian friendly scale
• Enhance multi-modal connections and convenience
• Strengthen connections between adjacent neighborhoods and districts
• Maintain flexible accommodation of a wide variety of building types
• Integrate old and new with context-sensitive, compatible approach with transitions
• Strengthen ability to deck over the highway and rail yards
• Destination with range of uses and densities
• Maximize opportunities to extend Boston’s urban fabric
• Define a network of recognizable places and centers of activity
• Enhance the ability for energy efficient and sustainable district design
• Anticipate climate change, sea-level rise and infrastructure needs
Types of Placemaking Standards
** Transformative Standards: These standards require modifications or refinements in the
3K-4 alternative. The design alterations would become part of the entire project and would
be integrated into the initial construction, with several noted exceptions where subsequent
phasing may be appropriate.
* Other Placemaking Standards: These standards can be met by the current
3K-4 Alternative or any reasonable variation.
Organizing the Placemaking Standards
Charles River Edges and Connections
Areas Along and Above the Highway and Rail Alignment
Cambridge Street and Connections to the North
Areas within the New District
Area-Wide Standards
Guidelines for Future
Master Planning
Placemaking Standards
Charles River Edges and Connections
1. Add I-90 and Soldiers Field Road connections
Provide additional access between Soldiers Field Road and new streets leading to the I-90
ramps, in order to reduce vehicular traffic on Cambridge Street and within the new district; this
will also help support new development. **
Soldiers Field Road access points, Concept 3K-4
Charles River Edges and Connections
1. Add I-90 and Soldiers Field Road connections
Provide additional access between Soldiers Field Road and new streets leading to the I-90
ramps, in order to reduce vehicular traffic on Cambridge Street and within the new district; this
will also help support new development. **
Additional, reorganized access points can be created
Charles River Edges and Connections
1. Add I-90 and Soldiers Field Road connections
Provide additional access between Soldiers Field Road and new streets leading to the I-90
ramps, in order to reduce vehicular traffic on Cambridge Street and within the new district; this
will also help support new development. **
• The intersection of Cambridge St. at River St. is simplified
• The Paul Dudley White Path can be widened near River St.
• The land in the “corner” near the Charles River will be more adaptable to various types of uses
Charles River Edges and Connections
2. Realign portions of Soldiers Field Road along the River
Soldiers Field Road can be pulled further away from the Charles River, creating more useable
open space, public access and pedestrian/bicycle connectivity. **
Realignment will require new solutions to access to Houghton Chemical and the MBTA maintenance facility.
Charles River Edges and Connections
3. Create Park Space on the Charles
Provide the space for a new park along the Charles River with revisions to the Soldiers Field Road
alignments.**
The space along the Charles will expand the Esplanade and be a neighborhood and district destination.
Charles River Edges and Connections
3. Create Park Space on the Charles
Provide the space for a new park along the Charles River with revisions to the Soldiers Field Road
alignments.**
The Esplanade and Charles River Reservation include a sequence of park nodes connected by narrower corridors along the River’s edge. Realignment of Soldiers Field Road will enable the creation of a similar park.
1. Nashua Street Park, Esplanade, Boston
2. Charles River Reservation, West of Harvard Athletic Field and South of Eliot Bridge
3. Park space at Community Boating, Esplanade, Boston
Existing Conditions, Soldiers Field Road and Charles River Edge
Charles River Edges and Connections
4. Provide a primary, at-grade pedestrian and bicycle
connection to the Charles River edge
As part of the roadway interchange and intersection design along Soldiers Field Road, provide
a connection to the open space along the River for pedestrians and bicyclists. **
Depressing a section of Soldiers Field Road will create the opportunity for the continuation of at-grade pedestrian and bicycle links directly into the new river edge park land.
Charles River Edges and Connections
Additional Standards
5. Consolidate supporting infrastructure to reduce barriers for new streets, open space and development *
6. Improve non-motorized paths along the Charles River Basin *
7. Maximize the quality of constrained open space in „throat‟ area *
Charles River Edges and Connections
Placemaking Standards
Areas Along and Above the Highway and Rail Alignment
9. Provide for an additional east/west street connection
between Cambridge Street and the West Station Area
Provide for a direct street connection with bicycle and pedestrian accommodations at or near the
Cambridge Street Bridge over I-90 and the West Station area, using air rights. **
The design of the project should anticipate future, phased construction of a new street above the rail and highway alignment that will link West Station area and Cambridge Street near its bridge over I-90.
Areas Along and Above the Highway and Rail Alignment
15. Provide a north/south link for shuttles and buses
Provide a north/south transit link for buses and shuttles between the North Allston/Harvard Area,
West Station, and areas to the east and south, including Kendall Square and the Longwood Medical
Area.**
Buses and shuttles should not terminate their routes at West Station, but should be able to continue across the I-90 and rail alignment. The project should establish feasible ways to accomplish this north/south link by evaluating potential routes and alignments.
Areas Along and Above the Highway and Rail Alignment
16. Provide added width to the connecting bridges to West Station
Provided added dimension (such as landscaped aprons) to the bridges that span above the highway
and rail alignment to provide visual and landscape amenities to support a pleasant pedestrian and
bicycle environment.*
The Long Street Bridge in Columbus, Ohio is an award-winning solution that widens a highway bridge to create a pedestrian-friendly, landscaped crossing
MKSK Landscape Architects
Areas Along and Above the Highway and Rail Alignment
Additional Standards
8. Retain the fundamental urban interchange approach developed in Alternative 3K4 *
10. Connect West Station to the River *
11. Reinforce air rights potential *
12. Provide visual and sound barriers to limit impacts on adjacent, developed parcels *
13. Ensure that West Station design includes usable public open space *
14. Do not preclude the potential for a future street connection to the south of West Station *
17. Allow a systematic method for locating and constructing air rights development *
Areas Along and Above the Highway and Rail Alignment
Placemaking Standards
Cambridge Street and Connections to the North
18. Provide a third north/south arterial Street
Provide three north-south arterial streets across Beacon Yards aligned with three north-south streets
now being planned for the Harvard Institutional Master Plan (IMP) area.**
Concept 3K-4 anticipated 2 connecting streets crossing Cambridge Street and linked to Harvard’s planned development area
Cambridge Street and Connections to the North
18. Provide a third north/south arterial Street
Provide three north-south arterial streets across Beacon Yards aligned with three north-south streets
now being planned for the Harvard Institutional Master Plan (IMP) area.**
Updated planning will result in 3 connecting streets, better distributing traffic, transit routes and creating better blocks in the new district
Cambridge Street and Connections to the North
20. Consider a direct North Harvard Street intersection alignment
A more direct intersection between Cambridge Street South and North Harvard Street at Cambridge
Street would limit neighborhood impacts and reduce unnecessary turning movements, congestion, and
street and intersection widths along Cambridge Street.**
If a simpler intersection and other changes in the street network will reduce impacts on North Harvard Street, then a more direct street alignment should be considered
Cambridge Street and Connections to the North
20. Consider a direct North Harvard Street intersection alignment
A more direct intersection between Cambridge Street South and North Harvard Street at Cambridge
Street would limit neighborhood impacts and reduce unnecessary turning movements, congestion, and
street and intersection widths along Cambridge Street.**
If a more direct alignment proves to have fewer impacts, then the odd-shaped blocks in Concept 3K-4 can be reorganized to provide better opportunities for development
Cambridge Street and Connections to the North
21. Strengthen Cambridge Street for early redevelopment
along its southern edges
Provide the opportunity for an improved Cambridge Street as an early phase
redevelopment target. **
Creating an active and developed edge along Cambridge Street will occur better and sooner if the blocks are well proportioned and have adequate depth for retail uses
Cambridge Street and Connections to the North
Additional Standards
19. Design and build Cambridge Street and its intersections with the minimum necessary general purpose travel
lanes, at the minimum necessary lane widths *
22. Minimize impact of highway access on active street frontage and pedestrian connectivity *
23. Avoid creating medians were possible *
24. Keep the pedestrian crossings short along Cambridge Street *
25. Protect bicyclists as they approach and cross intersection *
Cambridge Street and Connections to the North
Cambridge Street and Connections to the North
Placemaking Standards
Areas within the New District
31. Limit slopes of new streets and associated sidewalks and
bike facilities
Limit the maximum slopes for the new roadway network to less than 5%.*
Slopes with grades less than 5% accommodate easy walking, people in wheel chairs and bicyclists.
Areas within the New District
32. Organize streets to create blocks that can be flexibly and
efficiently developed
Provide a street grid that defines blocks that are scaled consistently and provide continuity
of block width and length. **
The placemaking standards for street alignment and connectivity will lead to better proportioned blocks that can be adapted to a wide variety of development and open space solutions.
Areas within the New District
37. Create a framework for adaptable and well sized blocks
The street layout should allow block sizes and dimensions that can be adapted to a broad range
of building and use types.**
Areas within the New District
Additional Standards
26. Create a street hierarchy *
27. Use a maximum design speed of 30 mph for parkways and neighborhood collectors
28. Assume a network of Internal secondary streets *
29. Phase street and intersection improvements *
30. Use multiple methods for efficient traffic distribution *
33. Enable active block frontages *
34. Provide streetscape and landscaping at the perimeter of any vacant future development parcels *
35. Provide permanent streetscape and landscape amenities where future redevelopment is not anticipated *
36. Plan for integration of roadway and district stormwater solutions *
Areas within the New District
Placemaking Standards
Area-Wide Standards
39. Follow MassDOT and City of Boston Complete Streets
Guidelines
The future streets should implement the State and City policies for Complete Streets.*
Area-Wide Standards
Additional Area-Wide Standards
38. Constrain design and operational speeds *
40. Provide quality transit accommodations on transit routes *
41. Employ smart curbside principles *
42. Incorporate Intelligent Transportation Systems into the design *
43. Allow for designated truck routes and truck-restricted streets *
44. Provide stormwater solutions that will not impact surrounding areas *
45. Identify options for robust local and regional transit service in the future *
46. Plan adequate capacity for future utility corridors *
47. Anticipate District Energy Systems *
Area-Wide Standards
Placemaking Study
Considerations for Future Master Planning
Considerations for Future Master Planning
48. Create a coordinated balance of open space and buildings that reflect the character of an urban district
49. Support an east/west green corridor
50. Create a linked network of open spaces
51. Plan for future Hubway stations
52. Conceal parking supplies
53. Optimize orientation of buildings to define district and retain views
54. Use the primary streets as visual corridors
55. Reinforce context-sensitive development on Cambridge Street
56. Reinforce air rights development potential
57. Integrate buildings, energy facilities and open space networks with potential flood and stormwater
management needs
58. Address sea level rise as part of a broader area solution
59. Provide District Energy systems and solutions
60. Follow best-practice Transportation Demand Management strategies for all new development
61. Provide comfortable, attractive connections for pedestrians and bikes above I-90
Placemaking Study
Next Steps
I-90 ALLSTON INTERCHANGE PROJECT
PLACEMAKING STUDY
City of Boston
Task Force Meeting
June 27, 2016